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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. file — a document
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. spell — a short time
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. spell — letters
  10. pass — a permit
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. pit — in a race
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. spell — magic
  15. file — a tool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. file — a line of people
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. date — the fruit
  24. pit — a hole

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com